Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Part I: A Survey of Pharmacists and Physicians in Saskatchewan

Abstract

A survey was conducted to evaluate the awareness and understanding of adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting by pharmacists and physicians in the province of Saskatchewan. Seventy-three percent of pharmacists and 54% of physicians responded to the survey. The importance of reporting serious ADRs was rated higher than for mild ADRs. Eighty-five percent of practitioners acknowledged their professional obligation to report ADRs, but only 20% of pharmacists and 15% of physicians indicated they had reported an ADR in the previous year. A relatively small proportion of practitioners (18% of physicians, 32% of pharmacists) were familiar with the procedures for reporting ADRs to the national adverse drug reaction reporting program (Health Protection Branch, Ottawa). Less than a third of practitioners cited the federal program as their preferred agency for reporting ADRs, whereas over half indicated a local agency (a hospital committee, a pharmacy, or medical association) as preferred.